Apparatus for applying protective coatings to suspended wires, cables, pipes, and the like



Nov. 25, 1941. McMAHON Er 2,264,048

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE COATINGS T0 SUSPENDED WIRES, CABLES,PIPES, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVE N TO R5Jose- 4 RI MMAHa/v EL wow 6. jPR/NGF/ELD Nov, 25,19 1 J. R. M MAHON ETAL2 2 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING PROTECTIVE COATINGS TO'SUSPENDED WIRES,CABLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE U Filed Dec. 9, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 aw, vAxr QRNEY Patented Nov. 25, 1941 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING- PROTECTIVESUSPENDED WIRES, CABLES, PIPES, AND THE LIKE Joseph R. McMahon andElwood C. Springfield, Glendale, W. Va.

Application December 9, 1939, Serial No. 308,340

Claims. (Cl, 91-44) COATINGS TO This invention relates broadly toapparatus for coating wires, cables, pipe, and the like, and relatesmore specifically to an apparatus for applying a protective coating orpaint to the messenger wires and cables suspended between adjacentsupwill economically and effectively coat or paint the i wire and cablewith substantially no loss of paint or other protective coating materialbeing applied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which willcoat the wire and cable on all exposed areas including that section ofthe wire and cable which are attached to a supporting pole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coating apparatus whichmay be conveniently and readily passed about a pole supporting the wireand cable with a minimum of time and effort on the part of the groundcrew operating the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide a coating apparatus whoselength may be adjusted or varied to accommodate wires or cables locatedon supporting poles at difierent heights from the ground.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in thenovel construction and the combination of parts hereinafter described,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 isa side elevational view of the'apparatus suspended in operating positionfrom a section of messenger wire;

Figure 2 is an end elevational view of the same;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken on line 33 ofFigure 1; V

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional "View taken on line 44 ofFigure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially online 55 of Figure 1;

Figure 6 is a detail plan View of the drip pan as viewed on line 66 ofFigure 1.

Figure '7 is a detail view in top plan of the spraying nozzle;

Figure 8 is an end View of the spraying nozzle,

parts being shown in vertical section toillustrate interiorconstruction;

Figure 9 is a detail view of the mechanism fo r telescoping thedepending standard, parts being omitted and other parts being shown invertical section;

Figure 10 is a detail View illustrating a modified driving means forpropelling the apparatus;

Figure 11 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view, taken on line I I -lI of Figure 10;

Figure 12 is a detail view illustrating the driving gears for actuatingthe'mechanism shown in Figure 10 and- Figure 13 is a detail view of afragmentary section of thepipe associated with the spraying nozzle,parts being shown in vertical section.

Referring to said drawings, the apparatus comprises a frame consistingof vertical members I, horizontal members 2, and angular braces 3, thisentire structure being integrally formed. The vertical members havetheir upper extremities bent upon themselves to form inverted U-shapedends 5 andB, respectively. The U-shapedend 5 has journaled therein ashaft 4 to which is fastened a trolley wheel I. The shaft 4 also carriessprocket wheels 8 and 9. A trolley wheel ii! is fixed. to a shaft Hjournaled in the U-shaped end 6 and said shaft H also has fixed theretoa sprocket wheel (not shown). A sprocket chain l3 connects the lastmentioned sprocket wheel with the sprocket wheel 8.

Located in the frame structure is a rectangular plate 14 which is alsoformed integrally with the frame. A pin [5 extends through therectangular plate 14 and supports a complemental plate l6 fastened tothe upper end of a depending stud H. The pin 1 5 extends throughregistering apertures provided inthe plates I4 and 16, said plates beingheld together by a nut 18 threaded on the pin l5,-a collar It beinginterposed between the nut l8 and the outer surface vof the plate IS.The pin I5 extends :beyond the nut 18 and has its diameter reduced toform a spindle 20 upon which is freely rotatable a one-piece castingforming dual sprocket wheels 2! and 22. A sprocket chain 23 connects thesprocket Wheels 2| and 9. Fastened to the stud I1 is the upper end of atube 24 in which latter is telescopable a tube 25 of smaller diameter.The tubes 24 and 25 are maintained fixed by a set screw 26, as shown inFigure 9.

Permanently fixed to the lower extremity of the tube 25 is a frame 21,said frame carrying or housing a reservoir for the coating material,

pump, power unit, etc., as will hereinafter be specifically described.

As shown in Figure 9, the lower end of the stud I1 is provided with aneye 28 which is disposed interiorly of the tube 24. The upper end of arope or cable 29 is attached to the eye 28 and extends downwardlyinteriorly of the tubes 24 and 25 and has its lower end attached to andwound about a winch 39 borne by the frame 21 and adapted to be rotatedby a hand crank (not shown). between the upper frame and lower frame 21,the set screw 26 is retracted and the cable or rope 29 wound or unwoundon or from the winch 39 to cause the tubes 24 and 25 to telescope toraise or lower the frame 21.

A pair of guy wires 3| have their upper ends attached to the plate l4and have their lower ends attached to and wound about the winch 39. Asecond pair of guy wires 32 have their upper ends attached to the tube24 and have their lower ends attached to and wound about a winch 33which is adapted to be rotated by means of spiral gears 34 borne by thewinches 39 and 33. The guy wires 31 and 32 are spaced away from the tube24 by a spider 35. Obviously, the purpose of the guy wires is to affordthe required rigidity between the upper and lower frames. The fact thatthe guy wires may be wound about the two winches makes it possible totake up the slack in the guy wires as the lower frame 21 is raised orlowered.

A tank 36 is carried by the frame 27 to serve as a reservoir for thecoating material. A suitable power unit 31 (which may be operated eitherelectrically or by an internal combustion engine) is also supported uponthe frame 21. Power from the unit 31 is transmitted to a pump 38 by abelt 39. A belt 40 connects the rotor of the pump 38 to a pulley 4|carried by a shaft 42. The shaft 42 has fixed thereto a smaller sprocketwheel 43 which is connected to the sprocket wheel 22 by a sprocket chain44. An idler sprocket wheel 45 is laterally movable in a slot providedin a bracket 49 attached to the frame 21 and the idler sprocket 1 wheel45 meshes with the sprocket chain 44. The idler sprocket wheel 45 may beadjusted in its slot in the bracket 49 so as to afford tension on thesprocket chain 44 regardless of the position of the lower frame 2! withrespect to the upper frame.

A boss 46 is formed on the upper surface of the U-shaped end of theupper frame, said boss having a recess formed in its surface to embracea stub pivot pin 41 provided on the under surface of a section of pipe48. A T 50 is provided on the end of the pipe 48, the connection betweenthe pipe 48 and T 50 being such that the T is freely rotatable withoutchance of leakage. An L 51 is connected to one side of the T 50, thisconnection also being a loose one so as to permit rotation of the L inthe T without chance of leakage. Threaded in the L 5| and dependingdownwardly therefrom is a length of tubing 52, the lower end of which isclosed on an angle, as shown at 53. The inner face of the tubing 52 isprovided with a series of vertically aligned discharge ports 54. Adischarge port 55 is also provided in the lower end of the tubing 52.

Connected to the opposite end of the T 56 is an L 56, in which isthreaded a nipple 51, to which latter is connected an elbow 58. Asection of tubing 59 is threaded in the elbow'58 and said tubing dependstherefrom. The lower end of the tubing 59 is closed, as shown in Figure8, and the When it is desired to adjust the space inner face of thetubing is also provided with a series of vertically aligned ports 54.The connection between the nipple 51 and elbow 58 is a loose one so asto permit free rotation of the elbow on the nipple without chance ofleakage. A metal shield 60 is fastened to the tube 52, while anothermetal shield 6| is fastened to the tubing 59.

A length of tubing 62 depends from the T 59 and is appropriately bent soas to extend downwardly and forwardly. A T-shaped nozzle fitting 63 isthreaded to the lower end of the tubing 62 so as to directly overlie themessenger wire 82 and cable 83. A slot 64 is provided in the lowersurface of the nozzle 63 to serve as a discharge port.

' Extending outwardly from the boss 46 is a bracket 66 having a clevisformed in its free end. Received in the clevis is a trunnion 61 whichencircles a pin 68, the latter having one end thereof pivotally receivedon a stub pin 69 formed on the underside of the pipe 48. Located onopposite sides of the trunnion 61 are oppositely disposed compressionsprings 10 maintained in position by nuts H, the asserted force of eachof the springs 10 being equal so as to normally maintain the pipe 48 inthe position shown in the drawings.

Embracing one of the upright members I of the upper frame and freelyrotatable thereon is a bracket 12 which supports a drip pan I3 disposedbeneath and in vertical alignment with the spraying nozzle hereinbeforereferred to. Extending outwardly from the other upright member l of theupper frame is an upwardly inclined race 14 which is designed tounderlie and afford support to the bracket 12 in the vicinity of thedrip pan 13. A suitable conductor 15 leads from the drip pan [3 into thetop of the tank 36.

A conductor line 16 leads from the bottom of the tank 36 to the pump 38,and another conductor line 1! leads upwardly from the pump 38 to a T 18.A section of flexible tubing 19 connects the T 18 to the pipe 48. Anappropriate valve is provided in the conductor 16 so that the supply ofthe protective coating material may be controlled from the tank 36. Anappropriate fitting 8| is provided in the conductor I! so that, whendesired, air under pressure may be introduced into the line for purposesof cleaning.

When it is desired to apply a protective coating to a section ofmessenger wire and cable, the apparatus is placed in operating positionby placing the trolley wheels I and ID on the messenger wire 82 so thatthe entire apparatus is freely suspended and depends from the wire 82.In this position, the oppositely disposed tubes 52 and 59 of thespraying nozzle occupy positions on the opposite sides of the messengerwire 82 and the messenger cable 83, which latter is suspended, as usual,from the former by wire clips 84.

Actuation of the power unit 3'! results in power being transmitted tothe trolley wheels 1 and I0 through belt 39, belt 40, sprocket chains44, 23, and I3. Such actuation positively drives the trolley wheels Iand I!) so that the entire apparatus is propelled on and along themessenger wire 82 in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 1.

Actuation of the power unit 31, as aforesaid operates, through the belt39, the pump 38. Such operation of the pump 38 results in an amount ofthe liquid or semi-liquid protective coating being continuously pumpedfrom the tank 36 through the conductors 16 and 11, as well as t n rahthe fies hl ou i g 19', to. the pipe 4r; Erognthe pipe. 43} the liquidcoating is delivered n er pressur to t e pray n nozzles 5 ,v 59. an ,63through the T 5.0- and is. discharged therethrough the ports 54 and 64,and a portion cf; the discharged coating is impinged against the wire 82and cable 83; The oppositely disposed shields 60 and BI confine, thedischarged coating to that area vertically coinciding with the width,of; the. drip pan 1.3. so that the coating which fails to be imp ngedonthe said wire and; cable may gravitate into the drip. pan. 13; an; bedrained: back into the tank. 35 through t e drain conductor 1-5. It willbe noted, that all. exposed; areas. of the Wire 82;, cable 83 and;

paratus so that the forward trolley wheel I9; isplaced on the wire 82 atthe opposite side of the.

pole, 85 and its clamp 86. The apparatus then continues its forwardtravel and coating operatiqh; until the rear trolley wheel 1 contactsthe pole B5 or its clamp 86;, at which time the groundcrew elevates-therear portion of the upper frameso. as to lift the trolley wheel 1 overthe clamp 85; at the opposite side of the pole. Forward travel; of theapparatus is continued. When the spraying nozzle contacts the pole 85,,as illustrated; detail in Figure 7 of the drawings, the L 5l. engagesthe pole so that the tube 52 of. the spraying nozzle is rotated in anarc of a. circle from a vertical to a substantially horizontal positionbecause of the provision of the loose connection between the L 51 and T59; Atthe same time the T 50, because of the loose connection between itand the pipe 48, is rotated on the pipe 48 so that the L 5| iselevatedand the L, 56, is lowered. During this. action,

however, the tube 59' of the spraying nozzle is maintained in asuspended vertical position be cause. of the loose connection betweenthe elbow 58.; and the pp 5 a mannerthat it will not become wedgedbetweenthe. cable and the pole. asthe apparatus. is; propelledforwardly. At the same time, how-.

ever, ittwillbe observedzthat. the wire and cable surface. adjacent the.pole. will be adequately coated because the coating fluid iscontinuously being dischargedthrough theports 54 whilev this actionistaking place. also discharged through the lower port 55 so that thecoating is applied between the pole and. cableduring that time that thenozzle is passing the. pivot 41 against thetension of the outer Afterspringv 1'0- exerted on the trunnion 61. the L 5| clears the pole, theouter spring 10 forces the trunnion. 61- inwardly to restore thesprayingnozzle and pipe 4B= to their normal positions,

A-t thesameitime that the L 5| engages the pole.85. to.force.thespraying nozzle and pipe-.43

outwardly, the roundedforward endofthe drip pan 13also-engagesthecircular-surface of the Obviously, this action. swingsthedepending tube 52 upwardly insuch The coating liquid is pole 85. so.that, during forward; travel 'ofthe apparatus, the dripfpan 13 is. alsoswungyout, wardly about. its. pivotal point on the upper frame member Iso that the drip. pan 13 at all times underlies the spraying nozzle toreceive the drainage therefrom. During the outward swinging movement ofthe drip pan 1-3 the frame 12. rides. over the outwardly extending. race14. After the pan has. cleared the, pole, thesame is returned to normalposition by reason of: the inwardly inclined surface of the race 14.

A bracket 81. is attached to;v the pipe 4.8 and: extends forwardly to.overlie the; T 50 and has fixed. thereto a downwardly and. angularlydis.-v posedlimit stop 8.8, the bottom. end of. which is normallymaintained: in contacting. relation. with. the T 59 by means. of: aretractile coil; spring 89' which. has one end: attached to. the L .551and has its. opposite end attached to. the. bracket 81.. Rotation of thespraying nozzle. with respect to the. pipe 48-, is achieved against. thetension ex-. erted. by thespring 89; After the spraying noz.-. zleclears. the pole, the nozzle is. returned. to.its. normal position bythe spring 89; the stop 88; limiting the rotation. so; that it will:cease when; the nozzle occupies. normal position;

As hereinbefore pointed out, the; lower frame 21; is suspended from theupper frame by. the telescoping standard: 2.4-and-.25;,the tube: 24being fastened; tothe stud I] of. the plate IS, the plate l6 beingsupported on the pinv |5.. Alatch mech: anism. is provided to preventthe lower frame 21 from freely swinging in a pendulum-like manner onits. supporting pin. [.51 As shown. in Figure 4, this latch mechanismconsists. of an L-shaped. lever 99: which ispivotally'mountedi to a.bracket 9| attached to the plate [6; A pin 92. is provided. on the upperend of'thelever 99:. and is adaptedto be received in.registeringapertures 93; provided in the plates.|.4iand ..I.6-; A compressionspring941is interposed between .theplate [Bandthe. lower. end. of the lever99: and a. rope 95: is fastened. to the-end ofthe lever and. extends.through an eye. 96 downwardly where its lower.-

' endterminatcs in the vicinity of the lower frame; When the apparatusis.-. traveling along. a;

93 so that the depending. mechanism will occupy;

a position substantiallyat the: center of gravity; When, however, theapparatusistraveling along an inclined cable, the. pin 92 may bewithdrawn from. the, registering apertures 931bypulling theropedownwardly so that the suspendingmechanism is free toseek its own centerof gravity to compensate. for the angle of angularity of the inclinedcable line.

As. shown inFig. l of the drawings; twoadditional apertures93 and 93 areprovided in theplate. l4, one such aperture being disposed at aspacedarcuate distance at each side of the cen-= tral aperture93 of the:plate I4. When the for ward portion of the apparatuscontacts a pole 85,

as hereinbefore described, the pin- 92 may be withdrawn from the.registering apertures 93 andthe suspended mechanism: slightly swungrear- I0 off the messenger wire 82 and thereby conveniently maneuver theforward part of' theapparatus" around to the opposite side of the pole85. Following this, the pin 92 is disengaged from the aperture 93 andthe suspended mechanism swings by gravitation to a point where the pin92 may again engage the aperture 93 of the plate I4. The apparatus thencontinues its forward travel and coating operation until such time as itbecomes necessary to place the rear trolley wheel 1 on the opposite sideof the pole. At this point the pin 92 may be withdrawn from theregistering apertures 93 and the suspended mechanism slightly swungforwardly on the pivot pin I5 to a point where the pin 92 engages theaperture 93 This alters the center of gravity of the suspended mechanismso that the larger portion of the weight is now borne by the for-.

ward trolley Wheel I0. Consequently, the ground crew may readily elevatethe weight relieved rear trolley wheel 1 off the messenger wire 82 andthereby easily maneuver the rear part of the apparatus around to theopposite side of the pole 85. Following this, the pin 92 is disengagedfrom the aperture 93 and the suspended mechanism swings by gravitationto a point where the pin 92 may again engage the aperture 93 of theplate I4 in its normal relationship.

As shown in Figure 8, removable pins or plugs 91 may be placed in any ofthe desired ports 54 of the spraying nozzle so as to confine thedischarged coating to the region occupied by the wire 82 and cable 83.

A modified form of means of propelling the apparatus is illustrated inFigures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings. When this latter is utilized, thebelt 40 drives the pulley M which is attached to a stub shaft Ijournaled in the lower frame 21. Mounted on the inner end of the stubshaft I00 is a bevel gear IOI which meshes with one of a pair of bevelgears I02 borne by a shaft I03, which latter has its opposite endsjournaled in the frame 21. A U-shaped plate I04 is fixed to the frame 21and has a longitudinally extending slot I located intermediate its ends.Received in the slot I05 is the circular end I06 of a verticallyextending, telescoping, hexagonal drive shaft I01. A bearing plate I08also accommodates the circular end of the shaft I06, the plate I08 beingattached to the U-shaped plate I04 by a machine screw I09 which passesthrough a slot I I0 provided in the bearing plate I08.

The upper end of the shaft I01 is journaled in a bearing provided in anL-shaped bracket III which is fixed to the plate I6. A bevel gear H2 iscarried by the upper end of the shaft I01 and meshes with a bevel gearII3 borne by a stub shaft II4 journaled in the bracket III. A sprocketwheel H5 is carried by the stub shaft H4 and is connected to thesprocket 9 by means of a sprocket chain I I6. A bevel gear I I1 is fixedto the lower end of the shaft I01 and meshes with one or the other ofthe pair of bevel gears I 02, as will hereinafter be fully described,

When the latter modified driving means is utilized, power furnished tothe pulley 4| is transmitted to the shaft I01 through the bevel gearIIII and one of the bevel gears I02 and bevel gear I I 1, The power istransmitted from the shaft I01 through the bevel gears H2 and H3 to thesprocket Wheel I I 5 and chain I I 6 for rotating and driving thetrolley wheels 1 and I0 in one direction.

When it is desired to reverse the direction 01' travel of the apparatusalong the wire or rope, the machine screw I09 is retracted and thebearing plate I08 moved longitudinally so as to bring the bevel gear II1 out of contact with the one gear and mesh the same with the othergear of the pair I 02 after which the screw is again tightened. Whenoperated after making this change, the direction of rotation of the gearI I1 and shaft I01 will be reversed from that above described to reversethe direction of travel of the apparatus alongthe wire or rope.

What is claimed is-- 1. In apparatus for applying a protective coatingto suspended cable lines borne by spaced supporting poles comprisingtrolley wheels adapted to be propelled along the line by a power plantconnected to said trolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended fromsaid trolley wheels, a reservoir containing the coating material borneby said frame, a conductor line from said reservoir to a spraying nozzlenormally aligned with the cable line, the section of said conductor lineto which the nozzle is attached being pivotally connected to the frameso as to be adapted, along with the nozzle, to be moved transverselywith respect to the cable line when the spraying nozzle contacts and ispassing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along the line.

2. In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cablelines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adaptedto be propelled along the line by a power plant connected to saidtrolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels,a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, aconductor line from said reservoir to a spraying nozzle normally alignedwith the cable line, the section of said conductor line to which thenozzle is attached being pivotally connected to the frame so as to beadapted, along with the nozzle, to be moved transversely with respect tothe cable line when the spraying nozzle contacts and is passing anobstructing supporting pole in its travel along the line, a drip panpivotally connected to said frame and disposed beneath the sprayingnozzle and adapted to be moved transversely about its pivot along withthe spraying nozzle when said drip pan contacts and is passing saidobstructing pole.

3, In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cablelines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adaptedto be propelled along the line by a power plant connected to saidtrolley wheels and borne by a frame suspended from said trolley wheels,a reservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, aconductor line from said reservoir to a substantially U-shaped sprayingnozzle disposed about said line, one of the perpendicularly disposedlegs of the nozzle being pivotally connected to the yoke of the nozzleso as to be adapted to be forced from its normal perpendicular positionwhen said leg frictionally engages and passes an obstructing supportingpole in its travel along the cable line.

4, In apparatus for applying a protective coating to suspended cablelines borne by spaced supporting poles comprising trolley wheels adaptedto be propelled along the line by a power plant onnect d to s id trolleyWheels and borne by av frame suspended from said trolley wheels, areservoir containing the coating material borne by said frame, aconductor line from said reservoir to a substantially U-shaped sprayingnozzle disposed about said line, one of the perpendicularly disposedlegs of the spraying nozzle being pivotally connected to the yoke of thenozzle so as to be adapted to be forced from its normal perpen saidframe, a conductor line from said reservoir, 2. spraying nozzle disposedabout said cable line and being pivotally connected in said conductorline so as to be forced about its pivotal point and out of its normalpath of travel along the cable line when the nozzle frictionally engagesand is passing an obstructing supporting pole in its travel along thecable line.

JOSEPH R. M'CMAHON. ELWOOD C. SPRINGFIELD.

